Vision Benefits - Human Resources at Ohio State
Vision Benefits
Access to vision care for you and your family reflects Ohio State’s commitment to offering high-quality, affordable health plans. The Ohio State University Faculty and Staff Vision Plan provides you and your covered dependents with benefit coverage for vision care services, such as eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses. You can choose between Basic and Plus Plan options, both of which use the Vision Service Plan (VSP) Choice Network but offer different levels of benefit coverage.
Both Basic and Plus options will offer an additional $50 frame allowance for certain featured frame brands. In addition, both vision plan options will offer VSP Light Care. After an annual eye exam, you may choose VSP Light Care for either prescription eyewear or for non-prescription eyewear, including sunglasses and blue light-filtering glasses.
Vision Service Plan (VSP) has expanded access to medical eye care services for VSP members and their covered dependents. Members now have access to supplemental medical eye care for sudden vision changes, eye trauma, pink eye, foreign body removal or other symptoms that hamper day-to-day activities. Members can see a VSP network doctor in-person or remotely for supplemental eye care instead of visiting an urgent care center or emergency room. Members can also use their routine VSP coverage for lost or broken glasses or replacement contact lenses to meet immediate eyewear needs by contacting their VSP network doctor. Access to optometrists allows members to maintain health while easing the burden on primary care physicians and emergency rooms. Learn more about the program.
Download Tools
- Vision Plan Specific Plan Details
- Summary of Material Modifications issued 5/04/2023 (Benefits coverage changes related to COVID-19)
Vision Plan Details
Effective Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023
| Benefit | VISION BASIC PLAN1 | VISION PLUS PLAN1 |
|---|---|---|
| WellVision Exam | Focuses on your eyes and overall wellness ($0 copay) | Focuses on your eyes and overall wellness ($0 copay) |
| Routine retinal screening (up to $39 copay) | Routine retinal screening (up to $39 copay) | |
| Every calendar year | Every calendar year | |
| Essential Medical Eye Care | Retinal imaging for members with diabetes covered-in-full ($20 per exam) | Retinal imaging for members with diabetes covered-in-full ($20 per exam) |
| Additional exams and services beyond routine care to treat immediate issues from pink eye to sudden changes in vision or to monitor ongoing conditions such as dry eye, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and more. | Additional exams and services beyond routine care to treat immediate issues from pink eye to sudden changes in vision or to monitor ongoing conditions such as dry eye, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, and more. | |
| Coordination with your medicalcoverage may apply. Ask your VSP network doctor for details. | Coordination with your medicalcoverage may apply. Ask your VSP network doctor for details. | |
| Available as needed | Available as needed | |
| Prescription Glasses | $25 | $25 |
| Frame2 | $205 Featured Frame Brands allowance3 | $250 Featured Frame Brands allowance3 |
| $205 Visionworks® frame allowance on any frame3 | $250 Visionworks® frame allowance on any frame3 | |
| $155 frame allowance3 | $200 frame allowance3 | |
| 20% savings on the amountover your allowance3 | 20% savings on the amountover your allowance3 | |
| $155 Walmart/Sam’s Club frame allowance3 | $200 Walmart/Sam’s Club frame allowance3 | |
| Every other calendar year | Every calendar year | |
| Lenses | Single vision, lined bifocal,and lined trifocal lenses3 | Single vision, lined bifocal,and lined trifocal lenses3 |
| Impact-resistant lenses for dependent children3 | Impact-resistant lenses for dependent children3 | |
| Every calendar year | Every calendar year | |
| Lens Enhancements | Standard progressive lenses ($0 copay) | Standard progressive lenses ($0 copay) |
| Premium progressive lenses ($95 – $105 copay) | Premium progressive lenses ($95 – $105 copay) | |
| Custom progressive lenses ($150 – $175 copay) | Custom progressive lenses ($150 – $175 copay) | |
| Average savings of 30% on other lens enhancements | Average savings of 30% on other lens enhancements | |
| Every calendar year | Every calendar year | |
| Contacts (instead of lenses) |
$130 allowance for contacts; copay does not apply (up to $60 copay) | $150 allowance for contacts; copay does not apply (up to $60 copay) |
| Contact lens exam (fitting and evaluation) | Contact lens exam (fitting and evaluation) | |
| Every calendar year | Every calendar year | |
| VSP Lightcare™2 (not available at Walmart/Sam’s Club) |
$155 allowance for ready-made non-prescription sunglasses, or ready-made non-prescription blue light filtering glasses, instead of prescription glasses or contacts ($25 copay) | $250 allowance for ready-made non-prescription sunglasses, or ready-made non-prescription blue light filtering glasses, instead of prescription glasses or contacts ($25 copay) |
| Every other calendar year | Every calendar year | |
| VSP EasyOptions2 (not available at Walmart/Sam’s Club) |
N/A | Members can choose one of these upgrades:3
|
| Every calendar year | ||
| Glasses and Sunglasses | Discover all current eyewear offers and savings at vsp.com/offers. | |
| 20% savings on unlimited additional pairs of prescription or non-prescription glasses/sunglasses, including lens enhancements, from a VSP provider within 12 months of your last WellVision Exam. | ||
| Laser Vision Correction | Average of 15% off the regular price; discounts available at contracted facilities. | |
| Exclusive Member Extras | Contact lens rebates, lens satisfaction guarantees, and more offers at vsp.com/offers. | |
| Everyday savings on entertainment, health and wellness, travel, and more with VSP Simple Values. | ||
| 1Coverage with a VSP Provider 2Coverage with a retail chain may be different or not apply. 3Included in Prescription Glasses |
||
The Faculty and Staff Vision Plan offers you a choice of network or non-network coverage when you seek vision services. You can perform a provider search by accessing VSP’s website.
Network
If you use a VSP Choice network provider, no claim forms are necessary, simply tell them you are covered by VSP. Your vision provider should file claims directly with VSP, although you will be required to pay for your portion of the expenses at the time of service.
Non-Network
If you use a non-network provider the plan pays less for covered services than it does when you use a network provider. Your provider may require you to pay for services in full and be reimbursed from VSP by filing a claim.
The Plus Vision Plan includes EasyOptions, which allows you to personalize your coverage by choosing from a set of enhancements available for your glasses or contact lenses at the time you use your benefit.
On occasion, your vision care provider may identify a condition that is medical in nature. If this happens, the claim will be covered in part or totally by your medical insurance and all rules of your medical insurance will apply. In order to receive the maximum benefit, use a provider in your medical plan network.
DEP Plus covers certain services that relate to type 1 or type 2 diabetes. DEP Plus is intended to supplement your group medical plan. For services provided in connection with DEP Plus, providers will first submit a claim to your group medical plan, and then to VSP. Any amounts not paid by the medical plan will be considered for payment by VSP. If you do not have a group medical plan, providers will submit claims directly to VSP.
Vision Plan FAQ
Vision Service Plan (VSP) is The Ohio State University’s Vision Plan vendor. The VSP website offers members the opportunity to manage their vision plan benefit through a secure, online account. From this site, members may view vision benefit eligibility for the current plan year, locate network providers, and view their member history.
You can create your account at the VSP website. Click “Create an Account” and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your registration.
No, a vision card is not required for service. Tell your provider that you have the Vision Service Plan. Visit the VSP website to register for an account and log in. There you can print a “Member Reference Card” if you prefer to have one, but it’s not necessary when seeing a network provider.
The primary cardholder is responsible for managing the account for him/herself as well as for all covered dependents.
With the VSP Basic plan, frames are covered ever other calendar year; with the VSP Plus plan, frames are covered every year. There are also differences in the maximum allowance paid under the two plans for frames and contact lenses. EasyOptions is only available under the VSP Plus plan.
For additional information on plan differences and premium amounts, see the Vision Plan Benefit Summary.
You may experience difficulty with accessibility on the VSP website. While we work with VSP to try and improve this accessibility concern, you may contact VSP at 1.800.877.7195 or HR Connection at 614-247-6947 Monday – Friday 8 am to 5 pm ET for assistance.
This is intended to be an overview. Refer to the Plan Document for complete information. In the event the information on these pages differs from the Plan Document, the Plan Document will govern.
